US Open Tennis 2009

Rafael Nadal

The US Open Tennis tournament is the final and likely most exciting Grand Slam Championship of the professional tennis year.

The US Open is widely considered one of the best spectacles in all of professional sports with all matches taking place in front of the hometown fans at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The atmosphere at the Open is always electric with the fast surface making for incredibly exciting tennis on the court and the hard core fans providing a party-like atmosphere at matches that often stretch well into New York night.

This year’s Grand Slam Championships have been incredible, especially on the men’s side. The resurgent Roger Federer took his first ever French Open title and then broke the all-time record for Grand Slam wins at Wimbledon with an epic win over American Andy Roddick.

Federer didn’t have Rafael Nadal to contend with during those tournaments, however, as the Spaniard went down to knee injury during the French. Nadal is set to return to Grand Slam tennis competition at the US Open and although he’ll likely not be 100 percent, he’s always a dangerous opponent. He has never won a US Open title, the only Grand Slam tournament he’s yet to win.

"You never know. You never know," said to the Associated Press about his chances at the US Open. "We will see how I am physically."

However, Roger Federer for one isn’t buying Nadal’s cautious talk and knows he is still the man to beat.

"He's downplaying his chances, which is very Rafa-like. I understand. He has to be cautious," said Federer.

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